When The Ramones were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, the recognition cemented their status as punk rock pioneers — and their ties to Long Island only deepen the regional lore surrounding them. It is often believed that Johnny Ramone was born in Westbury, New York, placing him directly in Nassau County at the start of his life. (Although many biographies also cite Queens or Long Island more broadly, the Westbury claim remains part of local memory.) Meanwhile, during their career the Ramones recorded Subterranean Jungle at Kingdom Sound Studios in Syosset on Long Island.
Beyond recording, the Ramones’ performance history on Long Island is well documented. The band is known to have played venues in Lido Beach, Levittown, and Freeport itself, while the same LibGuide also shows an in-store appearance done in Baldwin. Additionally, C.J. Ramone — Christopher Joseph Ward — is often associated with Long Island: many sources note he lived in Deer Park during his youth, and in interviews he mentions renting a cottage on Long Island after joining the Ramones.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on October 15, 2025.
While generally thought of a Los Angeles-based band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers -- often abbreviated as "RHCP," for short -- have several known ties to Long Island. Long-time drummer Chad Smith has been known to keep a home in Montauk and is believed to have co-chaired the Montauk Playhouse Community Center’s Diamond in the Rough Gala in 2014 and to have been part of a 2024 performance at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett.
Smith -- who has also drummed for Sammy Hagar's Chickenfoot, Post Malone, Ozzy Osbourne, Kid Rock, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and (Carle Place native) Joe Satriani -- is also have documented to have performed locally, including a surprise appearance at the LGBT Network's Sunset on the Harbor party in Sag Harbor. Perhaps more importantly, all of its studio albums between 1991 and 2011 were produced by Lido Beach native Rick Rubin, including its top-sellers Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication and One Hot Minute.
A Paltrocast interview with founding RHCP drummer Jack Irons (who also played with Pearl Jam and The Wallflowers) can be seen here, while the host's Q&A with long-time Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer (who currently plays with Pearl Jam) can be read here.
Some of the Freeport Library's resources on-file with relation to Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith and John Frusciante can be found here.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on May 14, 2025. Updated on May 29, 2025.
Lou Reed, co-founder of The Velvet Underground, grew up in Freeport. At the time of his passing, he is believed to have been a resident of East Hampton within the Hamptons. His bandmate in The Velvet Underground, Mo Tucker, is documented as having grown up in Levittown. A Lou Reed commercially-released live album, as recorded at Hempstead's Calderone Theatre, can be heard here. Some of the Nassau County Libraries resources on-hand with relation to Reed can be found here.
Other entries from this LibGuide are tied in with Reed, including Metallica, David Bowie and A Tribe Called Quest, as Reed collaborated with (and wrote material performed by) many other artists of note.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 16, 2025. Updated on July 11, 2025.
As formed in 1962 in London -- and still active as touring and recording musicians as of April 2025 -- The Rolling Stones generally are thought of as a British band. However, a 1975 trip by the band to Montauk for five weeks would lead to the song "Memory Motel," as believed to have been helmed within rehearsals at a Long Island home owned by Andy Warhol.
Stones frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards have also been documented as a Hamptons regulars over the years. Former guitarist Mick Taylor is also documented to have performed at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett and done a signing at Slipped Disc Records in Valley Stream. The most recent Rolling Stones studio album, as of May 2025, was produced by Great Neck native Andrew Watt.
Some of the Nassau County Libraries resources on-hand with relation to Jagger, Richards and the Stones can be found here.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 28, 2025. Updated on May 19, 2025.
Run-DMC co-founder Darryl "DMC" McDaniels is documented to have lived in Freeport. He also helped found the Long Island-based non-profit The Felix Organization, in addition to regularly appearing at charity-oriented events on the Island. Run DMC's 1986 album Raising Hell was produced by Long Island native Rick Rubin.
Also related to DMC with regard to Long Island, he is the co-founder of The Felix Organization -- as founded in 2006 with Emmy Award-winning casting director Sheila Jaffe -- to share good fortune with children who had not been “taken home” as they had. Per the Mission Statement of this Locust Valley-based organization: "Felix helps youth in foster care become tomorrow's leaders. Our young adults have become camp counselors. They have gone to college. And they have defied the statistics to achieve their unique dreams and goals.
A Run-DMC performance recorded at Fresh Fest at the Nassau Coliseum in 1985 can be seen here. A 2023 Q&A and live performance by DMC at the Long Beach Public Library can be seen here, while a 2024 performance by DMC at Long Beach's Bright Eye Brewing Company alongside Deez Guyzz and Paul Simon bassist Bakithi Kumalo can be seen here. More about Run-DMC's induction into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame can be read here.
Run-DMC is referenced and shown within the newly-released, Tribeca-screened documentary about Long Island's history with hip-hop called The Sixth Borough. Research related to this film was contributed by the Freeport Memorial Library's own Regina Feeney, who is thanked within the film's end credits.
Some of the Nassau County Libraries resources on-file with relation to Run-DMC can be found here.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 16, 2025. Updated May 19, 2025, June 3, 2025 and June 12, 2025.
